Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-02-05

The question. The fact Is. there was a
majority of one vote on the bill in the
house, and the members who have meas
ures Of their own vet to be decided upon
saw what wa coming and plunged into
the tide. All eyes are now turned to
Mr.. Lawler, Of the council. as the cham
pion Of Mitchell's cause in that body.
Things have so changed since the organ
of the legislature that it now
looks as though the bill will have a pref
ty stormy time in getting through the
council. There has been no test vote
upon the question, but by diligenl in
quiry l have learned that if.a vote were
taken today t'would he a tie. Campbell
of central Dakota and Lawler and Math-
ews of the south will vote with the nine
northern members for removal, and this
will make u tie, which, of course. would
be defeat for the measure. A strong
pressure will be brought to bear by the
Mitchell forces to gain another vote,
hut the task will prove irksome and diff
iicult.
The bill for the maintenance of the
volunteer fire departments of the terri
tory has passed the council, and q SINH
lar bill will pass the house. A confer
ence committee will then be appointed
to frame y compromise hill, which will
become q law. The houses agree on
the main point, which is that two pei
cent of the tax paid bv insurance com
panies shall be distributed among the
fire companies.
The most important legislation, and
that which is receiving the most atten.
lion at the hands of the eastern press il
that relating to railroads and telegraph
companies and to the exemption laws,
The grain and warehouse uill of COun-
Gilman Hughes, one of the most import
ant features Of which is that it makes
wheat tickets negotiable PAPER, will be
reported back favorahly by the COM
mittee. MI. Collins exhaustive railroad
bill has been considered Ivy the commit.
tee or railroads, and sections 81 and %,
which give the railroad commissioners
power u Tx y maximum rate of freight
and to regulate the weighing and grad.
,ng of gram, will be referred back to the
council III committee of the whole.
There is a strong opposition to these
two sections. rs it is claimed by many
that 1t will virtually place the farmers oi
the territory under the complete control
Of three railway commissioners. This
hill will be taken up Tuesday or Wednes-
day, and the railroad companies have
been notified. 80 that they ma be rep.
resented before the committee. This
will he mi If the memorable episodes
Of the session, ne the corporations and
the farmers will meet ia the arena OF
legislative debate, and the pros and cons
will be thoroughly ventilated.
Since the introduction of Mr.. Stew.
arts bill for the location of a soldiers
home at Hot Springs, in the Black Hills,
about a dozen bills for the location Of
soldiers homes have been introduced,
and all will be killed.
The bill Of Mr.. Aiken for the repeal
Of the law which taxes railroad compan-
les on their gross earnings has created
no small amount of discussion. A lively
tilt was occasioned last Friday by MIR.
Sprague's announcement THAI the bill
Wa u mlscnievious measure. This
brought Mr.. Aiken to his feet and he
denounced the assertion as unjust. He
says that by passing this bill the railroads
will come under the general law aud
will be taxed like private individuals on
the assessed valuation of their property.
In the case Of the Northern Pacific road
the accuracy Of this statement is doubt
ed and it is argued that the company
need not pay q cent Of tax Upon its
property as 1t is exempted by congress.
siOnal enactment.
The bill providing for the taxation of
mines upon their bullion or out put, is
now in process Of preparation and will
soon be introduced. Councilman WASH
abaugh, of Deadwood, will be the chief
opponent of the measure, and the con
test will be interesting. In conversation
| with q prominent member of the coun-
Gil | learn that the impression prevails
that the mining companies of the Hills
evade the tax law now in force by secur-
ing the election of their friends and EN-
plnyes as com ,issioners and assessors
Ut Lawrence county. If this sentiment
xrows materially there will be no doubt
OF the passage of the bill providing for
taxing the bullion.
Judge Church's confirmation still
hangs fire, it having been charged at
Washington that he is an iutemperate
man. The situation is becoming ex-
tremely embarrassing. Gov. Pierce has
struggled with his friends in Washing
ton to secure Church's confirmation and
q report has been circulated throughout
the country that he has been instrulmen.
tai in bringing about the delay. But
this is not I'll. While he is holding up
the load Of public opinion the Republi.
can: Of fh the sa ssriisSs m.n are urging 9h;. hi him %,s to
not wish to do as he is under moral OBJ
ligstons % President Cleveland and